Pink pistol zeroes in on High Woman title at NRA National Police Shooting Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Halfway through the first day of competition at the NRA National Police Shooting Championships is a time for rest. Take in your results, grab a quick snack and make ready for the afternoon push. Some are cruising along while others are already out of the hunt. Soon will be time for championship #3 — Stock Service Semi-Automatic.

For Stephanie Diaz, detective with the Los Angeles Police Department and winner of the High Woman title at this year's championship, it means its time to whip out the pink. A pink 9mm Nowlin pistol.

"It's a shame they (Nowlin Arms) don't build more guns," mused Diaz. "They make such a good product."

To take part in the Stock Service Semi-Auto Championships, your gun has to be less than 5 1/2 inches in barrel length, less than 7.5 inches in sight radius, and have under 3 1/2 pounds of trigger pull. While you are allowed extended magazine well funnels and finger groves on the grips, you can't use trigger shoes, thumb rests, a weighted stock or external trigger stops (along with a handful of other items). All of which falls in line with Diaz's Nowlin.

"I use to use my duty gun, a Beretta 92f for Stock Service," Diaz said. "I ended up buying the Nowlin back in 2005. I absolutely love it ... it's a great gun."

Stock Service is a 48 round match shot at 3, 7, 15, and 25 yards. 6 shots in 8 seconds, 12 shots in 20 seconds, 12 shots in another 20 seconds, and 18 shots in 90 seconds respectively. Why all the extra time for the last round? Because competitors are shooting from the kneeling, left handed and right hand positions.

But the big question, as I'm sure all of you out there are wondering, is why the pink grips?

"They're fantastic," she exclaimed. "People are jealous of my grips. Even the guys come up and tell me 'Oh I love your grips'."

With that she let out a snicker, a snort, and asked for a minute to recover. Who can blame her?

Because when she takes out that pistol and goes 476 out of a possible 500, the pink only adds to the party.

See the rest of the guns Stephanie used to with this year's High Woman title at the National Police Shooting Championships